Shaving in the Shower
by Stephen D. Gross

The rhythmic beat of the falling water
hushes the rasp of the guillotine choir
slicing hair from flesh
spilling blood salty scarlet
Swirling 'round worms side by side
wriggling 'neath the breeze-teased
tapestry on which
A thousand pink scallops
rough-edged in dry bone
do their coral-kissed tango
up and down the wet vinyl
ethereal seafoam
melting and morphing
Calcium fuses, becomes
Botticelli's shelf -
On which Venus stands naked
as a pale winter rose

Outside my bathroom window
the ocean curls and thrums
a fresh marine breeze teases
the frayed towels' fringe
like autumn wheat her locks
stream above the dolphins dance,
the mighty Manta's wingbeat.
the arrows of the sea
Balanced on a diamond
her quicksilver tears
streak the cold porcelain
her sorrow lifts me above
the sheltering fog
familiarly my fingers
climb the ridges
knead the valleys
soap the leather of my neck
I feel the quiet rush of life's
ruby cocktail
coursing within
the Mountain stream's channel
sinuous, sensuous
feeding, connecting
The wild golden mane
furls and snaps like
Burning tendrils,
Tiger tails in chaos
The red sun shakes
like a wet dog on fire
stinging my knees, my calves
Her tongue tastes the sharp
chrome edge of my sticky crimson
streaming headlong
down the drain
Her salt-watery eyes
plead with Neptune
But His green tears
ask their own bearded questions